GaryDean Kaleoho‘olaokalani Kahunanui remembered for his kindness

June 6, 2013

It was an intersection in Lahaina that GaryDean Kaleoho'olaokalani Kahunanui had crossed hundreds of times. On his skateboard, his bicycle and on foot, he had crossed Honoapiilani Highway countless times from his Wahikuli home to go to work at Safeway, go to the mall, go to the beach - just cruise.

Then it happened. Riding his bike down the hill and into that so familiar intersection on May 4, he collided with a truck and perished at the scene. He was 33.

Nobody seems to know just what happened, and at this point, not many people care. What matters here is that in less than a year, three beloved "Lahaina Boys" are gone.

"GaryBoy," as he was called with the night shift at Safeway, was known as a happy-go-lucky person - much like the two other young men that passed on in traffic accidents on Honoapiilani Highway.

Like the other two, GaryBoy loved the ocean to surf, bodyboard and fish. He also enjoyed raising Jackson Chameleons and tropical fish.

Also, like his two predecessors, he was known as a happy, kind and loving person.

Conrad Bolor, GaryBoy's supervisor at Safeway on the night stock crew, said, "GaryBoy was always happy and always helpful. All the crew and our usual late night customers knew him and enjoyed his kind personality."

Bolor, a grocery manager at Safeway for over 26 years, expressed an even deeper side of the relationship he shared with GaryBoy.

"He was speech impaired, so over the years that we worked together, he taught me how to do sign language and all the ins and outs of communicating. We all learned to understand him when he spoke as well. We had a really close relationship on the night crew and actually became like an ohana, and he was a part of it," he said.

"We all grew together, and GaryBoy grew to be a part of the family here and learned to be more independent along the way. We will really miss him, and already our regular night customers are asking about him. He will definitely be missed at Safeway."

"I say to you, my dear son GaryDean, thank you for being a good and loving son. We received you 33 years ago as an Angel, and now it's your time to fly with your wings to the heavens above into the presence of Ke Akua. You will always be our Angel until we meet again, A Hui Hou! I love you, Mom."